Ideas & Design

So you want to transform your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or other living space and you don’t know what to do. My first suggestion is to have a budget. This is the most important part to ANY makeover, big or small. The next step is to have an inspiration piece. For example, you want to remodel a bedroom. If you have a comforter or piece of artwork, you can design a room around that. Use colors from your inspiration piece to choose paint and fabrics. Magazines and the internet are great tools for inspiration but don’t look at a picture as a whole, look at the details like woodwork or paint on the walls or even the flooring and lighting. Don’t forget the details like molding, door design and even light switch covers, “YES” it all matters. The details are the difference between “oh” and “WOOOOOW”, if you want the wow factor do your homework. If its worth doing, it’s worth the effort for research.

Paint

Many paint stores now sell samples for about $2-$3 each. If you are unsure about color use these to get an idea. Don’t be afraid of colors like red or a variation of it. This color has a big wow factor if used correctly. Faux finishing is another great wow factor and not nearly as difficult as it looks. Practice on a piece of sheetrock, it costs about $6 per board and can really make a difference. A great designer once told me “Hey, if you don’t like it, it’s only paint”, this same designer also said “if it was white bread, everyone would have it”. In translation don’t expect to walk in to a store, buy your room in a box then expect to be the only one on the block with a unique design.

Doors

Almost every house I walk into has the “standard” 6 panel interior doors and we can all agree they’re boring. LOWES sells a more interesting 2 panel arch top for the exact same price. I have these in my house and people have made comments on how fantastic they look. Get the wow factor with eye catching hardware, brass and nickel aren’t the only options out there and don’t forget the hinges should also match. Again, small stuff.

Molding

Most interior design options comes from a can or a box. A nice vase, couch, table or even a rug. Take it all out and what will you have? Four painted walls. Molding is the accent no one does anymore. Crown, baseboard, doorway molding and even raised panel wainscoting. This is the true craftsmanship you can’t get in a box. This IS a wow factor. You will need a professional for this but like a new kitchen or bathroom it will increase the value in your home. The possibilities for molding are endless and the look is timeless. This is something you should consider in your budget.

Lighting

Lighting is more than just a fixture with a cool design. A successful lighting plan usually uses multiple types of fixtures to achieve your goals. Before choosing the fixtures you’ll want consider what your illumination requirements are such as general lighting, desk lighting, under the cabinet and even night lights. The type of bulbs are equally important. Some are soft white, some are cool white and all cast a different look to the room so take notice of these as well. Dimmers also help achieve the look and ambiance for your project.